Monument

ABSTRACT

A monument has a face sheet made from a corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel, which is cut to a desired ornamental shape. An inscription is cut through the face sheet and includes something that is unique to a person, such as that person&#39;s signature. Backing material is applied to the back surface of the face sheet such that it is visible through the cut inscription in order to create a contrast with the surface of the face sheet. The face sheet is set into uncured concrete placed in a recess in the ground to create a pad which secures the monument in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Burial monuments traditionally are carved in stone in order to be long lasting. However, with time weather causes wear and the inscription carved in the stone becomes unreadable. In addition, water can seep into microscopic cracks in a stone monument and when subjected to below freezing temperatures the frozen water can cause the stone to break. While modern materials are much more durable and longer lasting than stone, there has not been a system for using these materials to make a reasonable cost, aesthetically pleasing monument. In addition, with stone monuments there are limits to what can be carved into the stone which limits how much the monument can be personalized. Finally, a stone monument is limited to rather simple overall shapes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention provides a face sheet of corrosion resistant material which is cut to a desired overall shape. An inscription is then cut through the face sheet including something that is unique to a person, such as the person's signature. A backing material is attached to the back side of the face sheet in a manner that it can be seen through the cut inscription to provide a contrast with the face sheet. The face sheet is then set into uncured concrete placed in a recess in the ground to create a pad which secures the monument in place.

The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a monument embodying the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the monument.

FIGS. 3 thru 9 show step by step the method by which the monument shown in FIG. 1 is made.

FIGS. 10 thru 15 show step by step the method by which the monument of FIG. 2 is made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 10 thru 15 of the drawings, a monument 10 has a face sheet 12 which is cut into an ornamental shape, FIG. 10. The face sheet is made from a corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. The face sheet typically is quite thin, around a quarter inch, but it could have almost any thickness. The face sheet may be cut by laser cutting, but other cutting techniques could be used. With laser cutting, it is possible to provide a monument having a shape that would not be possible with a stone monument.

An inscription 14 is cut through the face sheet, FIG. 11. The image also may be laser cut and extends completely through the face sheet. If desired the cutting of the inscription can be computer controlled to allow a complex image to be cut with extreme accuracy. If the monument is a burial monument the inscription would typically include the name of the deceased and the dates of birth and death. In addition the inscription may include something that is unique to the deceased, such as a signature, in order to personalize the monument. If the monument is not being used as a burial monument the inscription would explain what the monument commemorates.

A thin sheet of backing material 16 may be attached to the rear face 18 of the face sheet, FIG. 12. The backing material has a color that contrasts with the color of the face sheet so that it is visible through the inscription. The backing sheet also is a corrosion resistant material. If the face sheet is stainless steel, a copper or bronze backing sheet works well. The backing sheet is attached to the face sheet in a manner that it is tight against the face sheet. A water-proof glue works well for this purpose.

A plurality of downwardly protruding anchors 20 also are attached to the rear face 18 of the face sheet. The anchors typically are made from the same material as the face sheet, and in the case of a stainless steel face sheet they would be welded to the face sheet.

Finally, an embellishment 22 of some type can be attached to the front side 24 of the face sheet 12. By attaching the embellishment rather than forming it in the face sheet itself the embellishment provides a three-dimensional affect in what otherwise would be a flat surface. A recess 23 is created in the ground and filled with fluid concrete 25 to provide a pad 27 that supports the monument. The face sheet 12 is partially inserted into the uncured concrete so that its rear face 18 and the anchors 20 are buried in the concrete. Thus, once the concrete cures, the monument and the resulting pad 27 become an integral unit.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 thru 9, a face sheet 12 is cut and an inscription is cut in it in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4. Likewise, a sheet of backing material 16 is attached to the rear face 18 of the face sheet, FIG. 5. A back sheet 26 is cut to have the same shape as the face sheet 12, FIG. 6. The back sheet can be from the same corrosion resistant material as the front sheet. A side sheet 28 is cut from the same corrosion resistant material as the front sheet and back sheets. The side sheet has a front edge 30, which is attached to the face sheet 12, and a back edge 32, which is attached to the back sheet 26. The side sheet has a width such that the face sheet 12 is separated from the back sheet 26 to form a cavity 34. The width of the cavity can be whatever is desired, but for most headstone sized monuments a total monument thickness of around two inches is aesthetically pleasing.

One or more stakes 36 fit in the cavity and are joined to either the face sheet 12, the back sheet 26 or both, FIG. 7. In the embodiment illustrated, the stakes are rectangular in cross-section but they can have any desired shape. If the face sheet, back sheet and stakes are stainless steel, the stakes can be welded in place. The stakes are sized to project from the bottom edge of the monument. If desired, an embellishment 22 can be attached to the face sheet similar to the previous embodiment, FIG. 8. This embodiment of the monument is set in uncured concrete 25 similar to the previous embodiment. The bottom edge of the monument is partially immersed in the uncured concrete as are the stakes. Unlike the previous embodiment, the monument is set in the uncured concrete 25 upright, rather than being oriented horizontally. Thus, the stakes 36 must have sufficient size and rigidity to hold the monument in this orientation.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A method of making a monument, comprising: (a) cutting a face sheet of corrosion resistant material to a desired shape; (b) cutting an inscription in said face sheet, including something that is unique to a person; (c) placing backing material on a back side of said face sheet such that said backing material is visible through the inscription cut in said face sheet; and (d) setting said face sheet in a pad of uncured concrete formed in a recess in the ground.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said inscription includes a person's signature.
 3. The method of claim 1 including the additional step of attaching downwardly protruding anchors to a back side of said face sheet prior to setting said face sheet in said uncured concrete.
 4. The method of claim 1 including the step of attaching a three dimensional embellishment to said face sheet.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said face sheet is stainless steel.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said backing material is copper.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said backing material is bronze.
 8. The method of claim 1 including the step of: (a) cutting a back sheet of corrosion resistant material having the same shape as said face sheet; (b) cutting a side sheet of corrosion resistant material having a front edge and a back edge; and (c) attaching said face sheet to said side material along said front edge and attaching said back sheet to said side sheet along said back edge such that said front sheet is separated from said back sheet.
 9. The method of claim 8 including the further step of attaching one or more stakes to inwardly facing sides of at least one of said face sheet and said back sheet such that said portions of said stakes projects outwardly from a bottom edge of said monument.
 10. The method of claim 9 including the additional step of inserting the projecting portions of said stakes into said uncured concrete.
 11. A monument comprising: (a) a face sheet of corrosion resistant material; (b) said face sheet having an inscription cut therethrough, said image including something that is unique to a person. (c) backing material applied to a back side of said face sheet in a manner such that said backing material is visible through the inscription cut in said face sheet; and (d) a concrete pad set on the ground which said face sheet is embedded in.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the inscription includes a person's signature.
 13. The monument of claim 11 including one or more anchors which extend downwardly from said face sheet and extend into said concrete pad.
 14. The monument of claim 11 including a three dimensional embellishment which is attached to said face sheet.
 15. The monument of claim 11 wherein said face sheet is stainless steel.
 16. The monument of claim 15 wherein said backing material is copper.
 17. The monument of claim 15 wherein said backing material is bronze.
 18. The monument of claim 11 comprising: (a) a back sheet of corrosion resistant material; (b) a side sheet of corrosion resistant material which extends between said face sheet and said back sheet in-a manner to create a cavity therebetween.
 19. The monument of claim 18 including one or more stakes which fit within said cavity and are attached to at least one of said face sheet and said back sheet.
 20. The monument of claim 19 wherein said stakes project partially out of said monument. 